Isaac w



- I. W. LOW. CAN OPENER.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. '6, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFiC-E.

ISAAC LOW, OFWASHBURN, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT FORD, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,014, dated February 6, 1894.

' Application filedMay 17, 1893. Serial No. 474,517. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC W. LOW, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Washburn, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box and Can Openers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in can and box openers or cutters of that class wherein are employed a base for supporting the box, and a lever with the cutters which cutters are tapered.

It has for its objects among others to provide a simplified construction, cheap in its manufacture, durable and efficient in operation, and adapted for opening either round cans or rectangular boxes.

I provide the base with an upright portion in which is pivoted the lever and with another upright which serves as a support for the free end of the lever when not in use. The lever is of peculiar construction and carries the cutters arranged at difierent heights.

When the device is in use upon round cans ver- I tical portions of the lever serve as braces for the can to hold the same in its proper position. The upright to which the lever is pivoted serves the same function for rectangular cans or boxes. The cutters for rectangular cans are so arranged that the side cutters out nearly the whole of the top of the can along the sides before the cutter for the end comes into operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon,form a part of this specification and in which- Figure is a side elevation of my improved device shown as in position for operatingupon rectangular cans. Fig. 2 is a top plan. Fig.

3 is a perspective view with the lever thrown up in order to better show the cutters.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the base which is preferably formed in one piece with the upright B at one end which serves as a means for the pivoting or hinging of the lever and also-as a brace or stop against which the can may be supported. Near the other end there rises the upright or standard 0 which is de signed to support the lever when the device is not in use. 7 This latter upright is of considerably greater height than that at the other end of the base for a purpose which will soon appear.

D is the lever; it is formed of a single piece bent upon itself at its center as seen at d and the two portions extended in close proximity to each other for a considerable distance, being secured together or not as may be deemed best. Near the center of the length of the lever it is formed with a bifurcated or forked portion as seen at D and between the bifurcations there is secured the circular cutter E the sides of which are secured to the opposite sides of the lever and the ends brought together and secured between the two close portions of the lever as seen at d. From this point the two portions of the lever are bent as seen at d to extend downward and form the vertical portions or arms D and then again bent as seen at d to form the horizontal portions D to which are secured or affixed in any suitable manner the side blades or cutters F which as will be seen are tapered from near their centers in both directions, and to the cross brace bar F which connects the two portions of the lever near their bends d is secured or affixed in any suitable manner the cross blade or cutter G which is also preferably tapered in both directions from near its center. This double taper of the cutters or blades is important as will soon ap- Dear.

The cutterE is provided with a downwardly projecting point which is tapered in both directions from its center as shown.

In operation, if round cans are to be cut the same will be placed on the base and rest against the vertical portions of the lever; the lever will then be raised and brought down so that the circular cutter will be forced into the top of the can; after one side has been cut the can can be reversed so as to bring the opposite side under the cutter when the lever is again depressed and the cutter brought into action. The lever is pivoted at its end on the cross pin or pivot 9 held in the upright B, the ends of the two portions of the lever working in vertical openings in the said upright as seen at g. If rectangular cans or boxes are to be cut or opened the same will be placed upon the base and against the upright B and when the lever is brought down by reason of the peculiar shape of the cutters ISAAC W. LOW.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. BECKETT, D. A. TURNER. 

